Clemens shagging flies again as softball outfielder

By Jose de Jesus Ortiz

August 21, 2012Updated: August 21, 2012 11:31pm

SUGAR LAND - It has been 28 years since Roger Clemens made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in May 1984, and it has probably been that long since the Rocket smiled when anybody called him a rookie in a clubhouse.

Yet, when it comes to over-50 slow-pitch softball, the man who is ninth on baseball's all-time win list, is a just a famous rookie outfielder with the same energy he displayed during his 24-year major league career.

"I play left-center field, and I sprint from the dugout to left-center," said Clemens, who turned 50 earlier this month. "It's about a 100-yard dash. The guys on the other team when I'm racing out there yell out, 'Shut it down, rookie. Quit showing off.' "

By now, most baseball fans should realize Clemens will shut it down when he's good and ready, and only when he's good and ready.

Clemens, who pitched 24 years in the majors and led the 2005 Astros to their only World Series appearance, will return to the mound Saturday night for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League.

Clemens hasn't pitched since he was with the New York Yankees in 2007, but his return to the mound Saturday won't even be his first competitive game at a local diamond this week. The Rocket was dropping bombs Monday night, and he expects to be back in action Wednesday night against a team called AA Productions.

"Last night I was playing in a 50-plus softball league," Clemens said. "I hit two home runs, by the way."

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Clemens' team, Hendricks Sports Management, is sponsored by his longtime agent Randy Hendricks. They are currently tied atop the standings in the top flight (United League) of the Harris County Senior Softball league.

"I really play in that league for the exercise and the fun," Clemens said. "It's Mr. Hendricks' team, and he sponsors it. So I got his logo on my chest."

Clemens makes it clear that his softball team shouldn't be confused with Hendricks' Houston Texans' traveling team, which has won numerous national and international slow-pitch softball titles.

"His travel team is money," Clemens said of Hendricks' Texans.

Still new to the league, he initially thought players were out if they hit home runs, a common rule in men's softball.

In this league for old men with AARP cards, however, a home run comes with a treat.

"When you hit a home run," he said, "you only have to touch first base."